Police wounded in Italy shooting

Two police officers have been shot and wounded near the Prime Minister's office in Rome. Reports says the alleged gunman, who is in custody, told investigators he acted out of anger with politicians. Today Italy's new government was sworn in.

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A gunman who shot and seriously wounded two policemen outside the Prime Minister's officer in Rome, says he acted because he was angry at the country's politicians.The attack came as Italy's new government was being sworn in after two months of political deadlock.

The alleged gunman who shot two police officers and a passerby outside the Italian Prime Minister's Office told investigators he acted out of anger with politicians, Reuters reported, citing a prosecutor working on the case.

Italian police patrol the area where two officers were shot and wounded outside the Prime Minister's Office. Credit: REUTERS/Remo Casilli

"His intention was to strike politicians", deputy Rome prosecutor Pierfilippo Laviani said after the incident, which took place as the new government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta was being sworn in at the nearby presidential palace.

The shooter, identified by police as 49-year-old Luigi Preiti, an unemployed man from the southern region of Calabria, has been arrested.